Stars win annual Anti-Racism 5-a-side

Seventeen teams took part this year in the competition organised primarily by the Clarets fanzine ‘When the Ball Moves’ and sponsorship was kindly provided by the East Lancs Partnership, the European version of ‘Kick it Out’ and also Central Lancs Clarets.

Winners Bengal Stars collect the trophy from Gerry Harrison

The whole even got underway at 10 o’clock at the Turf Moor Leisure Centre with the teams competing in groups before the knock out stage started at the quarter finals.

There were some very keenly fought contests as well with a couple of games threatening to boil over but mostly it was all played in a good spirit.

Our very own Clarets Mad Message Board team did the site proud and lost only one of their seven group games, finishing third in the group before going out at the quarter final stage against AFC Gull with a goal just 16 seconds from the end of the game.

Our victors were joined by Harchester, Trelleborgs and Bengal Stars in the semi-finals and it was the latter two who contested an exciting final.

Runners-up Trelleborgs

Trelleborgs received a lot of support in the final, after all they were all Clarets fans and playing in Claret & Blue but as was the case last year it was the impressive Bengal Stars who came out on top to lift the trophy.

They collected the trophy immediately after the final with former Claret Gerry Harrison presenting that and all the individual trophies to all the teams that reached the last four.

It was very much an enjoyable day and one that all the teams said they will be quick to sign up for again next year.

Congratulations to the winners and to all that took part and all those who supported the event.

Stars win annual Anti-Racism 5-a-side

Last updated : 27 October 2003 By Tony Scholes

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